It was the couple’s first public appearance since they returned from Australia and New Zealand.

Known as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn in Scotland, they toured the Strathearn area, starting at the community campus in Crieff.

The future king and his wife – who left Prince George with his nanny – also visited the Glenturret distillery, sampling whiskies and getting a chance to bottle their own malt, and unveiled a field of trust plaque in the newly-restored MacRosty Park.

They had a ball at Forteviot fete, where Kate was photomugged, and left with a load of gifts, including a few for George.

The party, with armed royal protection officers in tow, spent an hour at the campus, where Wills met the crew of Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, the Air Training Corps, Sea Cadets, Black Watch Army Cadets and Boys’ Brigade.

Kate chatted to young members of the Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, and sampled pancakes.

Scout leader Jim Comrie, 66, of the 5th Perthshire group, said: “She was asking the children if they’d been camping, which they had a month ago. They didn’t get much sleep – that’s what they told her.

“We also presented her with one of our neckerchiefs. She is a cub leader with a pack in England.”

Kate and Wills then enjoyed a dram as they toured Scotland’s oldest working whisky distillery.

They officially opened the new-look Famous Grouse Experience visitor attraction at Glenturret distillery, just outside Crieff.

Down Under, Kate quashed any speculation she was expecting a second child by telling wine-makers she was enjoying being able to drink again after the birth of George. And she sipped from a glass of Snow Goose, while William chose the Alpha Black.

The couple then became the first people to bottle their own Glenturret. Boss Stuart Cassells said: “They had a great interest in the distillery and it has been a real privilege to have them.”

The couple joined special guests from the local area at a civic reception hosted by Perth and Kinross provost Liz Grant.

Then it was off to the fete, where they tried plenty of local produce from the stalls.

Mother and daughter Fiona Wimpenny and Pepper Young, 10, said Kate tasted their sweet hand-made Perthshire Oatcakes. And David Lang, from Strathearn Distillery, added: “We gave her some heather rose gin, which is our most popular, and she said it was absolutely delicious.

“I think she’s a fan. What better testament to our gin than her saying that?”

Graham Donaldson had created a picture of the couple with George made entirely of sweets, which was on display at his confectionery stand.

He said: “It took about 100 hours to make but it’s a bit of fun and she wasn’t offended by it. She noticed it straight away when she came to the stall and she liked it and she got some local tablet to try as well. I hope she has a sweet tooth.”

The couple also watched a display of Scottish dancing and William toured the local chapel.

They rounded off their visit by jointly opening a reconstruction of a timber circle, known as the Pittentian Timber Circle.